5 Dec 2018
9:02 AM

Asbestos

Asbestos fibres were used widely in building materials before the
mid-1980s. If your house was built or renovated before the mid-1980s, it
is likely to contain asbestos cement building materials.

You may
be surprised at the various types of products that were made from bonded
asbestos cement included fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated), water
drainage and flue pipes, roofing shingles and guttering, even the
backing of vinyl sheet floor coverings.

In NSW, the use of
asbestos was discontinued in all fibro sheets and products by the
mid-1980s. After this, asbestos continued to be used principally in
friction products, for brake and clutch linings.

The manufacture and use of asbestos products was banned nationally in Australia from 31 December 2003.

Asbestos
materials that are in good condition are unlikely to release asbestos
fibres if left undisturbed. If asbestos materials are in good condition,
paint them and leave them alone.

National Asbestos Awareness Month and Asbestos Awareness
aims to alert Australians to the dangers of working with asbestos
during home renovations and maintenance and educate them about where
asbestos might be found in and around the home.

Whether a home is
constructed of weatherboard, brick, fibro or has exterior cladding,
asbestos can be found in and around most homes built or renovated before
1987.

Asbestos can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and
under floor covering, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors,
internal and external walls, garages, ceilings, eaves, fences,
extensions to homes, and backyard sheds... it could be anywhere. Don’t
play renovation roulette! Get to kNOw asbestos in NOvember! Visit Asbestos Awareness. It’s not worth the risk!

Asbestos and Renovating

If you are thinking of
renovating and removing more than 10 square metres, you MUST either hire
a qualified asbestos removalist or obtain a NSW Workcover bonded
asbestos removal licence which requires you to attend an appropriate
training course run by TAFE or a registered training organisation.

Any loose or friable asbestos must be removed by a qualified asbestos removalist and cannot be removed by the homeowner.

The licensed removalist should also forward a notification letter to all neighbouring properties to advise of any removal work that is proposed.

Only scientific testing of a sample of material by an accredited National Association of Testing Authorities
(NATA) asbestos testing laboratory can confirm the presence of
asbestos. For information on testing and accredited laboratories in your
area, visit www.nata.com.au or call 1800 621 666.

Call the Work Cover Authority of NSW on 13 10 50 for more information about asbestos or visit the SafeWork NSW Website.

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About the Shire

The Shire of Temora offers all the benefits of country living with a comprehensive range of quality affordable services.

Temora is situated approximately 80 km north of Wagga Wagga in the South West (Riverina) of New South Wales. Canberra is two hours drive to the east, with Griffith a 1.5 hour drive to the west.

Temora has a huge advantage as it is centrally located between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, as well as being situated within South West Slopes/Riverina area, making it an ideal base from which to visit the region.

Temora Shire includes the town of Temora, and villages of Ariah Park and Springdale, but outreaches to other small communities outside the Shire boundary. With a strong retail trade sector and an active business community, many visitors are surprised at the variety of shopping within the town.